'Gangsterism is not cool' - police commissioner

Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake has told students of Grange Hill High School in Westmoreland that "gangsterism is not cool" as he sought to discourage them from embracing a culture of crime and violence. 

Blake was part of a high-level security and education team that visited the school on Friday in the wake of the killing of 16-year-old student, Carson Barrett, on April 25.

Blake assured students and staff that the police will restore normalcy to their school and the wider Grange Hill community.

“In the meantime, I am imploring you students (that) you are the future, do not be dragged into crime, stay away from crime. Criminality and gangsterism is not cool,” Blake said.

Barrett, a grade 10 student, was shot and killed while walking home from school following sports day activities.

A female student of the same grade was also injured and is recovering. That incident has plunged the school and the wider community into mourning.

“Let me assure you that you will not be taking this journey on your own, we are here for you and we will be here with you,” Commissioner Blake assured.

He noted that Grange Hill High School exists in an environment surrounded by criminal activities and other elements.

“And so whilst we can take care of you in the confines of the school, we have to ensure that the threat forces out there are dealt with. So we looking at identifying these individuals, and let me tell you we know who they are, they have our attention and we will be doing everything in our powers to remove them," Blake informed.

- Albert Ferguson

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